- Date
- July 21, 1988, 06:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Colfax, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8974HSchweizer G164A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report April 14, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880721027259A
- Case key
- 40851
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
In flight collision with terrain/water
Preflight planning/preparation - improperCause
Terrain condition - risingFactor
Performance data - not usedFactor
Clearance - misjudgedCause
Airspeed - not maintainedCause
Load jettison - not performedFactor
Analysis
On departure with a load of chemical, ag plt attempted to outclimb rising terrain ahead. The aircraft collided with terrain in a stall/mush.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8974H
- Reported as
- Schweizer G164A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1347
- Engine
- P&W R-985-AN1, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Darrell L. Fender
- Registered owner
- Darrell L Fender
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- S94
N8974HRegistered now · Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164AAirframe modelGrumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164AEngine modelPratt & Whitney R1340 series
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 3,200 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 3,170 as pilot in command · 300 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 12 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PUW, 15 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8974H · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.
NTSB SEA89LA121Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportColfax, WAImproper installation of the cylinder assembly. The terrain was not suitable for a successful forced landing.NTSB DEN84LA192Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMurdo, SDThe pilot reported the engine failed while he was in a procedure turn. The pilot made a forced landing in an open field and the acft nosed over. Examination of the engine after the accident revealed the engine 'swallowed an exhaust valve' that caused the…NTSB FTW82DA205Accident · No injuriesFinal reportAngleton, TXWhile concentrating on his flagger, the pilot misjudged his altitude and allowed the aircraft to collide with a levee. The pilot then dumped his load and made an emergency landing, during which time, the aircraft nosed over.